The AirPods 3 pack a ton of features and upgrades compared to the AirPods 2, including enhanced Find My support. With AirPods 2, which are now being sold by Apple for $129, users are limited to tracking through Find My when the earbuds are connected to the user's device. As soon as AirPods 2 are placed in the case or out of connection range, users are no longer able to track them.
AirPods 3 are a substantial upgrade over the AirPods 2, featuring a brand new design, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, MagSafe charging, and support for Adaptive EQ. The AirPods 3 also get an additional hour of listening, with up to six hours, and a jump from 24 hours to 30 hours with the charging case. Of course, users will get the typical one-tap pairing to all devices logged into the connected iCloud account, Announce Notifications with Siri, and hands-free assistance with the "Hey Siri" voice command.
Both AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 can play a sound from their small speaker when they are lost. While AirPods 2 show up in the Find My app, the AirPods 3 come with deeper Find My network integration and support in general. This enables the AirPods 3 to be tracked as long as the buds are near any iPhone, iPad, or a Mac, and even when the earbuds are out of range or in Lost Mode. The enhanced Find My functionality also allows the AirPods to be found when within range, with the Find My app employing a far, near and here system when in closer proximity to the earbuds. Although not AirTag-precision finding, it is still better than what's available with the previous version. The new AirPods also feature separation alerts support, where the owner is alerted when the AirPods are left behind.
Apple's Massive Find My Network
Overall, AirPods 3's enhanced Find My support will help users find lost (or stolen AirPods) as long as they are within range of an Apple device such as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Of course, if AirPods are lost and aren't near an iPhone, iPad, or Mac for a substantial amount of time, the Find My network won't receive updates, making it harder to locate them. In cases like this, Find My will display the last known location for the earbuds.
Apple's Find My network is massive, thanks to its ability for iPhones, iPads, and Macs to act as mediator devices. Not to mention, the network is not just for AirTags and AirPods, as Find My can also be used to track other apple devices, including Apple Watch, iPod touch, Beats headphones, and a limited number of third-party products. Some devices, such as iPhones and iPads, can even be tracked when the device has been powered off. Of course, regardless of the device, Apple's Find My network only works if the device still has battery.
Source: Apple